Providing books to improve reading outcomes
Substantial progress has been made in the past decade in the research on “what works” to improve early grade reading, both in South Africa and internationally. Studies show that systematic daily instruction, supported by multiple components including teaching guides (lesson plans), quality teaching and learning materials, training and onsite coaching can contribute meaningfully to systematically improving children’s ability to read.
However, improving classroom reading instruction needs to be supplemented with extensive opportunities for learners to read independently. The more children read, the better they become as readers. This is particularly true if schoolchildren are able to select the books themselves.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, supported by VVOB in South Africa, has thus undertaken a Classroom Library project to provide 604 Classroom Library kits to 101 primary schools in KwaZulu-Natal for Grades 1-3, each containing 5 sets of 40 different books in the children’s home language, and library management materials to assist the educator to manage the library. Children can then borrow books to take home to read, and return them in their own time.
The effectiveness of the project to build a book culture and support independent reading will then be assessed by measuring the average impact of Classroom Library Systems in Grade 1 – 3 in the intervention schools.
The Classroom Libraries Starter Kit Manual can be downloaded below. The full Classroom Libraries training videos playlist can be seen on VVOB in South Africa's YouTube channel, the first of which can be seen below.
